Author: Devin James

Sen. Cohen Welcomes Decrease in Fatal Traffic Collisions

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Cohen Welcomes Decrease in Fatal Traffic Collisions

HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, welcomed reporting from the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) that fatal traffic collisions on state roads are down this year compared to last year.

“These numbers are certainly encouraging, but the work is nowhere near done,” said Sen. Cohen. “I am grateful for the work of the State Troopers and to the partnership of the folks at DESPP and DOT. This is a step in the right direction, but the reckless driving happening on our roads remains a huge problem. I am ready to return to the Capitol in February to continue our work in keeping our motorists, cyclists and pedestrians safe on our roads.”

According to the DESPP, from Jan. 1 through July 31 of this year there were 49 fatal collisions on roads and highways patrolled by the Connecticut State Police, compared to 69 fatal collisions during the same period in 2024.

The DESPP analysis found that I-84 was the highway where most fatal collisions happened, and most collisions occurred on Mondays and Thursdays between 9 and 10 p.m.

As Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, Senator Cohen has led passage of legislation that implements wrong-way driving countermeasures, automated speed enforcement and work zone safety precautions.

Connecticut’s State Police force has shrunk and in order to increase officer recruitment and retention, Senator Cohen voted in May to approve a 2.5% general wage hike, step increases and more competitive benefits for our State Troopers.

More information about traffic collisions can be found here.

Sen. Cohen Named Legislative Leader in Manufacturing

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Cohen Named Legislative Leader in Manufacturing

HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, celebrates being selected to receive the 2025 ManufactureCT “Outstanding Leader in Government Affairs” award.

This award is typically given to someone who exhibits strong leadership that impacts manufacturing issues in a positive way. Senator Cohen is being recognized for her ongoing transportation advocacy which impacts workforce development in a positive way.

“Investing in transportation is not just an investment in a critical public service, but it is also a boon for workforce development and the economy,” said Sen. Cohen. “I am so grateful for the partnership of ManufactureCT and I am honored to be recognized by industry leaders in a sector that is quite literally paving the way for a more connected tomorrow.”

“Senator Cohen’s unwavering dedication to transportation is a tremendous asset for employers and employees,” said Jim Gildea, Chair of the ManufactureCT Government Affairs Committee and past President of ManufactureCT. “Her efforts are instrumental in enhancing our workforce, enabling our manufacturers to effectively recruit, and retain the talent essential for maintaining competitiveness in today’s market.”

ManufactureCT is one of the nation’s longest standing industry groups that serves the manufacturing industry. According to ManufactureCT, they represent “firms that make precision instruments for medical and aerospace industries, security devices for information systems, specialty chemicals, fixtures in metals, plastics, and other materials using a range of technologies and processes from 3D printing to traditional stamping and machine tooling, and more.”

Senator Cohen will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony in October.

SEN. CABRERA REACTS TO INSURANCE COMPANY FILINGS FOR HIGHER PREMIUMS ON A QUARTER-MILLION CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS

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SEN. CABRERA REACTS TO INSURANCE COMPANY FILINGS FOR HIGHER PREMIUMS ON A QUARTER-MILLION CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS

HARTFORD – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), who is Senate Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, issued the following statement today in reaction to the new, proposed health insurance premium rate hikes from Anthem Health Plans, CTCare Benefits Inc., Oxford Health Plans/Insurance Inc., and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Co. that seek to raise premiums on 224,000 Connecticut residents by 5.9% to 26.1%.

The rate hikes affect Connecticut residents who are enrolled in one of the state-regulated Access Health CT health care plans created by Democrats and President Barack Obama under a law known as the Affordable Care Act; the proposed rate hikes do NOT affect most private-sector insurance that is controlled by federal ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) laws.

“We’ve come to the point now – especially with the damage being inflicted by Donald Trump and Washington Republicans – that health insurance premiums for the working-class and small businesses have become the new electric rate shock. It’s that bad. We’ve got thousands of people in every town and city in Connecticut, in every House and Senate district, Democrat and Republican, who are ultimately going to see a rate hike of some sort.

“The largest single group of individuals buying coverage on Connecticut’s health insurance exchange – about a third – are folks ages 55 to 64. Then there’s another 70,000 or so who work at small businesses. They all make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, and they’re not old enough for Medicare. These are moderate-income, working-class Connecticut residents who are about to get blasted.

“But the proposed rate hikes from Anthem, Oxford, United and others aren’t even the bad news. The real bad news is that Trump and Republicans have just killed an average $1,700 in federal health care premium assistance for about 140,000 Connecticut residents on the exchange. For a family of three, that’s about half a month’s income. At the same time, Trump and Republicans have changed Medicaid requirements that will force an unknow number of people off of Medicaid and possibly onto the state health insurance exchange. Or maybe they just won’t have any health insurance at all.

“Either way, brace yourself for a lot more people paying higher health insurance premiums because of corporate greed and damaging Republican health care policies – all to give millionaires a tax break while the middle class bleeds. This is the grim, grim reality of Donald Trump’s America. And I don’t see how the State of Connecticut can make up a multi, multi-million dollar loss like this.”

STATEMENT OF DANBURY MAYOR ROBERTO ALVES, SENATOR JULIE KUSHNER, AND REPRESENTATIVES BOB GODFREY, KEN GUCKER AND FARLEY SANTOS RE: FEDERAL ICE ACTIONS IN THE DANBURY COURTHOUSE

Posted on by Devin James

STATEMENT OF DANBURY MAYOR ROBERTO ALVES, SENATOR JULIE KUSHNER, AND REPRESENTATIVES BOB GODFREY, KEN GUCKER AND FARLEY SANTOS RE: FEDERAL ICE ACTIONS IN THE DANBURY COURTHOUSE

“When we took the oath of office, we made a commitment to ensure the safety of our community.  We’re angry and saddened that so many in our city, throughout the state, and across the nation are living in fear. What we witnessed in Danbury at the courthouse last week was a clear escalation of the Trump administration’s violent tactics, using armed and masked ICE agents to spread fear and intimidation.

“The federal government claims to target criminals, but we are witnessing people being detained without their constitutional right to due process.

“While immigration enforcement is the federal government’s responsibility, Connecticut law, the Trust Act, is clear — our state and local agencies are not to cooperate in these operations. We will continue to ensure the Trust Act is fully enforced and that no city staff, police, or resources are ever used to aid these actions.

“Our immigrant neighbors are part of the very fabric of this city.  Our mayor and Representative Santos were once undocumented immigrants who had firsthand experience with the fear, the silence, and the constant uncertainty these families face. At the local level, we will continue to meet with members of the community and faith leaders to provide resources and share information.  At the state level, we will support efforts to strengthen and enforce the Trust Act.

“We condemn the tactics and fear that the federal administration has brought to our community, and we will stand united not just in words, but also in action, to protect and defend the people of Danbury.”

Duff & Fairfield County Legislators Fight to Keep Local Channels Accessible

Posted on by Devin James

Duff & Fairfield County Legislators Fight to Keep Local Channels Accessible

HARTFORD – Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and a coalition of Fairfield County Democrats wrote Thursday to Altice USA, owner of Optimum cable, to oppose the telecommunication company’s planned reassignment of local government and educational channels for much of the region.

In a letter to Altice Chairman and CEO Dennis Mathew, the legislators voiced their disappointment and concern related to Optimum’s abrupt and poorly communicated decision to shift programming from the long-standing channels 78 and 79 to the 1300 range for municipalities in the Area 9 Cable Council.

The changes are expected to result in confusion among audiences in Greenwich, Darien, Easton, New Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, Stamford, Westport, Weston and Wilton, who have tuned in to channels 78 and 79 for local government and educational programing for more than two decades.

“Local programs are vital to our democracy,” the legislators wrote. “They provide community-specific information, foster civic engagement, and provide a platform for local voices and diverse perspectives. This sudden and ill-advised decision to change channel positions will, in effect, exile local content by hiding it with a new channel assignment.”

Click here to read the letter.

The legislators expected Optimum’s decision would require costly rebranding for local stations, such as changing “Darien TV79” to “Darien TV,” and would place the burden of informing viewers on the local stations themselves.

They also criticized Optimum for providing customer notice only through billing statements, which they argued are often crowded with excess information and fine print.

In their letter, the lawmakers urged Altice to reverse the change or explain why the reassignment was necessary, why it had to be implemented so quickly, and what additional steps the company would take to inform customers. They also asked whether Altice would fund a broader information campaign to minimize the disruption.

“We hope that our concerns can be addressed to safeguard our communities’ access to local educational programming,” the legislators wrote.

The letter was signed by Senators Duff, D-Norwalk, Ceci Maher, D-Wilton, and Pat Billie Miller, D-Stamford, as well as Representatives Hector Arzeno, D-Greenwich, Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, Eilish Collins Main, D-Stamford, Savet Constantine, D-Wilton, Lucy Dathan, D-New Canaan, Anne Hughes, D-Easton, Jonathan Jacobson, D-Stamford, Dominique Johnson, D-Norwalk, Stephen Meskers, D-Greenwich, Kadeem Roberts, D-Norwalk, and Travis Simms, D-Norwalk.

Senator Hochadel Highlights State Financing for Meriden Redevelopment

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Senator Hochadel Highlights State Financing for Meriden Redevelopment

Senator Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, welcomed new state financing Friday for an ongoing rehabilitation project to transform five existing buildings on Colony Street in Meriden into a new development, including 69 apartment units in the city’s downtown business district.

The funding, announced last month by the state Department of Housing and Housing Finance Authority, includes a $2.375 million loan through the Build For CT program. It will help fund the residential and commercial development project near the city’s Amtrak Station.

“It’s exciting to see state support for a project that’s expected to breathe life into our downtown,” Senator Hochadel said. “For years, these buildings have stood unused just steps from the Meriden Green and our train station. Soon, they’ll provide homes for families and space for businesses, turning blighted structures into housing and economic activity that will benefit the whole community.”

The Colony Street project is expected to include 19 affordable apartments reserved for households earning between 60-80% of the Area Median Income.

Meriden was one of nine Connecticut communities with developments that received state financing, announced by the Housing Department at the end of July. All told, the investment will help to create or preserve 478 housing units.

“We’re doing everything possible to accelerate our development efforts so we can continue building stronger, more resilient communities across Connecticut,” Seila Mosquera-Bruno, commissioner of the Department of Housing, said.  “These investments reflect our values and commitment to providing housing our residents can afford, at all incomes levels, and different stages of life. We’re excited about these projects and look forward to seeing these homes occupied with Connecticut families.”

“Housing is foundational to opportunity and economic stability,” Nandini Natarajan, CEO of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, said. “These recent closings – from new construction in Stamford and Norwalk to revitalization in Willimantic – reflect the creative, locally grounded solutions needed to meet the complexity of housing need across Connecticut.”

SENATOR MAHER ISSUES STATEMENT AS DCF COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

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SENATOR MAHER ISSUES STATEMENT AS DCF COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) issued the following statement after Department of Children and Families Commissioner Jodi Hill-Lilly announced her plans to retire from state service and become the director of the Doris Duke Foundation’s Child Well-Being Program after a career in Connecticut spanning more than 35 years:

“After a long career dedicated to helping people across Connecticut, I wish Commissioner Hill-Lilly the best, with gratitude for all she has accomplished protecting and aiding vulnerable communities and families. Her national recognition for her detailed, meaningful approach to this work reflects the care and compassion she has shown throughout her time at DCF.”

Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff Elected Vice President of National Conference of State Legislatures

Posted on by Devin James

Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff Elected Vice President of National Conference of State Legislatures

BOSTON—Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D) has been elected vice president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization serving the nation’s 7,386 state lawmakers and more than 30,000 legislative staff.

Sen. Duff will serve one year as vice president, followed by a year as president-elect, and will become NCSL’s president at the 2027 Legislative Summit in Atlanta, Ga. NCSL’s presidency alternates between parties every year. Illinois Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr. (D) is NCSL’s newly elected president, and Montana Senator Barry Usher (R) is the president-elect.

Sen. Duff becomes the first Connecticut legislator elected vice president of the NCSL, and in coming years will become its first NCSL president-elect and president.

“In its 50 years of advancing the work of state legislators, NCSL has uniquely fostered a collaborative attitude that puts bipartisanship into action and has created lasting partnerships among the states. Stepping into the vice president position, I will channel NCSL’s emphasis on solving problems together and tackling issues that touch each of our states,” said Sen. Duff. “It’s not lost on me that this will provide Connecticut with direct connections to some of the best ideas, people and resources in the country. I’m focused on what this election means for my state – this is great news for Connecticut Senate Democrats, the Connecticut Legislature and the 3.6 million people who call Connecticut home.”

Sen. Duff served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 2002 to 2005 and was elected to the Connecticut Senate in 2004. He has been the Senate majority leader since 2015. He is an active member of NCSL, serving as co-chair of NCSL Standing Committees, an at-large member of the Foundation of State Legislatures Board and a member of the Executive Committee.

Since assuming the majority leader position, Sen. Duff has overseen passage of a rewrite of Connecticut’s education funding formula, the largest tax cuts in state history and paid family medical leave. As the former chair of both the Housing Committee and Banking Committee, he created the state’s first Housing Trust Fund to build more affordable homes and worked on several reforms to reduce foreclosures.

Sen. Duff earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Lynchburg College in Virginia and has been a real estate professional with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty for more than three decades. He lives in Norwalk, Conn. with his wife, Tracy, and two children.

Senator Lesser Welcomes Pilot to Expand Coverage of Weight Loss Drugs

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Senator Lesser Welcomes Pilot to Expand Coverage of Weight Loss Drugs

Senator Matt Lesser, Senate chair of the legislature’s Human Services Committee, issued the following statement Friday in response to a federal pilot program to cover GLP-1 weight loss drugs under Medicaid and Medicare.

“I welcome the return of this policy and believe Connecticut should seriously consider participating in the federal pilot program,” Senator Lesser, D-Middletown, said. “As we confront the obesity epidemic and the broader public health issues that come with it, we need Medicaid and other health plans to cover weight loss drugs in a way that is effective and affordable for patients and taxpayers. Two years ago, I wrote a law requiring Connecticut’s Medicaid program to cover GLP-1 drugs, but the cost was overwhelming due to high demand and drug company profiteering. That’s why this year, we directed the Department of Social Services to work with the federal government to reduce those costs, including through generic production and potential in-state manufacturing.

“This pilot program could help make these medications more accessible and more affordable, and I urge DSS to explore every option to lower prescription drug costs for Connecticut families. But this comes at a time when both red and blue states are reeling from $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. The federal government must do more to support access to care. Millions of Americans are being pushed out of the system, and any progress on affordability will mean little if people no longer have coverage.”

The Washington Post reported Friday that the federal government planned to begin a five-year pilot program allowing Medicaid and Medicare to cover GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The program mirrors an initiative proposed by President Joe Biden late last year.

In 2023, Senator Lesser led passage of Senate Bill 977, which required the Connecticut Department of Social Services to cover certain types of obesity treatments under its HUSKY B Medicaid program.

More recently, Senator Lesser served as co-chair of the legislature’s bipartisan Prescription Drug Task Force. The group’s work informed House Bill 7192, which included a provision requiring DSS to partner with the federal government to seek the generic production of GLP-1 weight loss drugs in addition to a wide range of other policies intended to reduce the costs consumers pay for pharmaceuticals.

H.B. 7192 passed with overwhelming support during the 2025 legislative session and was signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont. The legislation was celebrated Wednesday during a bill signing event at Arrow Pharmacy in Hartford.

Senator Gadkar-Wilcox Welcomes State Bonding to Youth Empowerment Group in Bridgeport

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Senator Gadkar-Wilcox Welcomes State Bonding to Youth Empowerment Group in Bridgeport

Today, state Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (D-Bridgeport) is welcoming $250,000 from the State Bond Commission for Full Circle Youth Empowerment, Inc. in Bridgeport.

The $250,000 in state bonding is expected to help fund planning activities related to the acquisition and renovation of a facility to support youth and family programming.

“This funding for Full Circle Youth Empowerment will help lay the foundation for a space where children and families can learn, grow, and thrive together,” said Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox. “I’m proud to support efforts that uplift our community and provide real opportunities for the next generation.

Full Circle Youth Empowerment Inc. works to empower, support and encourage youth. The organization provides a variety of programs and services that support youth to help strengthen their skill development and increase their well-being to achieve optimal success personally, socially, emotionally, academically, and spiritually.